Garmin® Debuts Open Array Radar

Four- and Six-Foot Antennas Give Boaters the Big Picture

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today announced the debut of the GMR™ 404 and GMR 406 , two powerful 4kW X-band digital open array radar scanners that offer outstanding clarity, precision and target definition.
The GMR 404 is a 4-foot scanner with 1.8-degree beam width for superior target separation. The GMR 406’s 6-foot antenna takes beam width down to 1.1-degrees for an even higher level of detail. Both scanners have a maximum range of 72 nautical miles.
“Our new line of open-array scanners solidifies Garmin as a top choice for mariners who own larger motor yachts,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “The GMR 404 and 406 are great additions to our feature-packed and easy-to-use Garmin Marine Network family.”
All radar data is digitally processed within the GMR 404 and 406’s pedestal via a digital signal processor, and is efficiently presented on Garmin’s GPSMAP® 3000 series of chartplotter/multifunction displays (MFDs). Digital processing allows for more precise recognition, enhancement, and filtering of radar echoes – making the finished display easier to read and interpret.
The sleek, windswept styling of the GMR 404 and 406 is also designed to look great atop any modern yacht. The radar pedestal also features a unique access panel for maintenance in the field – awkward struggles with a heavy and cumbersome radar pedestal are things of the past.
The GMR 404 and 406 both have radar overlay capability, allowing boaters to reconcile radar signatures with known objects on the chartplotter. The units also offer MARPA (Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) capability, which allow boaters to track the bearing, course, speed and predicted closest approach (by both time and distance) of up to 10 targets. MARPA functionality requires an optional heading sensor.
Both radar arrays feature automatic and manual sensitivity and tuning controls, including gain, sea clutter, and rain clutter – which allows boaters to spend less time tuning the unit and more time navigating. The units also boast selectable interference rejection, which mitigates the effect of nearby radar transmissions.
Other specifications for the GMR 404 and GMR 406 include:
Antenna type: End fed slotted waveguide
Pedestal size: 24” x 11” x 16”
Beam width: 1.8o (404) and 1.1o (406) degrees horizontal / 25 degrees vertical (both 404 & 406)
Polarization: Horizontal
Antenna Gain: 29 dB (404), 30 dB (406)
Antenna RPM’s: 24 rpm and 48 rpm
Receiver noise figure: Less than 4 dB
Power output: 4KW
Maximum range: 72 nm; Minimum range: 20 meters
Range scales (range rings): 20 meter or +/- 1.5% of range scale, whichever is greater
Scanning operation Temperature: Range:-10o C to 60o C, and a relative humidity up to 95% at 35o C
Wind velocity (relative): Withstands up to 100 Kts without performance degradation
Range ring accuracy: 20 meter +/- 1.5% of range scales, whichever is greater
Bearing accuracy: 1 degree
Presentation modes: North up, Course up, Heading up
MARPA: Tracks up to 10 MARPA targets (heading sensor is required)
VRM/EBL: 2 user adjustable, capable of floating
Guard zone alarm: 2 zones, user adjustable
Zoom mode: 2x and 4x
Trails: short, medium, and long
Cable length: 15 meters
Waterproofing: IEC 60529 IPX6 standards

The Garmin Marine Network can provide important situational awareness data like GPS, radar, sonar, and near real-time graphical weather data and audio channels directly on the GPSMAP 3000 series MFD, through a subscription to XM WX Satellite Weather and XM Radio.
The GMR 404 and GMR 406 are expected to be available in August 2006.